Brussels, 08/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - During the third quarter of 2009, euro area GDP was up 0.4% and that of the EU27 0.3% compared to the previous quarter, when growth rates were -0.1% in the euro area and -0.3% in the EU27, estimates published by Eurostat on Friday 8 January confirm. Compared to the same period of 2008, euro area GDP was down 4.0% (-4.1% according to the first estimate in early December) and that of the EU27 4.3%, compared to -4.8% and -5.0% for the previous quarter.
Lithuania (6.1%) recorded the highest growth rate compared with the previous quarter, followed by Luxembourg (4.2%) and Slovakia (1.6%). With regard to variations in components of GDP in the third quarter of 2009, household final consumption expenditure decreased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27 (after +0.1% and -0.2% respectively in the previous quarter). Investments fell by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27 (after -1.6% and -2.5%). Exports increased by 3.1% in the euro area and by 2.7% in the EU27 (after -1.2% and -1.4%). Imports increased by 3.0% in the euro area and by 2.9% in the EU27 (after -2.8% and -2.9%). At the same time, US GDP growth was up by 0.6% (after -0.2% during the previous quarter) and by 0.3% for Japan (+0.7% during the previous quarter). Compared to the third quarter 2008, GDP in the United States was down 2.6% (-3.8% during the previous quarter) and that in Japan fell by 4.7% (-6.0% during previous quarter). (A.B./transl.jl)